Winter Haven / Orlando

[helena67]

Hi, we may be relocating to FL. My husband would work in two places: Auburndale and Lake Wales. What would be the most natural choice for housing? We are looking into Winter Haven, but I don't like the country look, more developments closer to shopping, activities. I have never been there, and I get mixed feedback from different people. Can someone please help me? Real estate agents don't want to talk much about schools, etc...some law...I need honest opinion about where we should look to buy a house. We have two teenagers, so HS would be the school they would go to Thank you very much.

[Kaci]

If you don't like the country look, you need to check out Lakeland near Auburndale. Bigger city 40,000? Big beautiful Oaks, lots of things to do. You're an hour away from Tampa or Orlando. K

[markhunt]

Despite the housing market, new subdivisions around the I-4 corridor in Auburndale are selling homes at a steady pace. They are very affordable and very convenient.

I work by the Orlando airport and it takes me no more than 40 minutes to get to work each morning. My neighbor says it is 40 minutes to get to Tampa. To get to the Lakeland mall for us it is no more than 15 minutes. And with the new Posner Park opening in Davenport this spring that is only 12 minutes from us. Winter Haven is also only 10 minutes away.

We are 20 minutes from Celebration Hospital, 10 minutes from Lakeland Regional, and I would guess 10-15 minutes from Winter Haven Hospital. I had to take an ambulance ride not too long ago and the paramedics actually asked me what hospital I would like to go to.

There is a lot of growth happening in Polk County in general at this time because of the affordability of real estate and closeness to Orlando and Tampa (depending on the town in Polk). A lot of people who don't want to be bothered with all the problems of the city while still having the luxury of just hopping on I-4 are moving out here. As well as lots and lots of families. I see it all the time.

I have seen some brand new 1800sf homes selling from the 140's!! Where can you find homes that cheap that are not in the ghetto and also have this type of convenience?